Ajax have strongly criticised a firework display that caused their Eredivisie match against Groningen at the Johan Cruyff Arena to be abandoned. Referee Bas Nijhuis took players off the field within five minutes after fireworks and flares were ignited behind one goal, filling the stadium with smoke.
Attempts to restart the match 45 minutes later were met with more fireworks, forcing Nijhuis to abandon the game. Ajax said in a statement: “Ajax considers what happened in the stadium this evening to be utterly outrageous... Fireworks do not belong in the stadium.”
In other European action, Real Madrid drew 1-1 at Girona with Kylian Mbappé’s penalty, while Napoli beat Roma 1-0 to move level on points with Milan at the top of Serie A. Inter won 2-0 at Pisa thanks to a Lautaro Martínez double, and Viking secured the Norwegian title for the first time in 34 years with a 5-1 win over Vålerenga.
